What is mercury in solar system?

What is mercury in solar system?

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. It’s just a little bigger than Earth’s moon. It is the closest planet to the sun, but it’s actually not the hottest. Along with Venus, Earth, and Mars, Mercury is one of the rocky planets. It has a solid surface that is covered with craters.

What is mercury in simple words?

1 : a heavy silvery white poisonous metallic chemical element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures. 2 : the column of mercury in a thermometer or barometer. 3 capitalized : the planet that is nearest the sun and has a diameter of about 3000 miles (4700 kilometers)

Why is mercury important to the solar system?

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and is also the smallest of the eight planets in our solar system. For every 2 orbits of the Sun, which takes around 88 Earth days, Mercury completes three rotations of its axis. It is gravitationally locked and this rotation is unique to the solar system.

What does mercury do to the human body?

Health effects of mercury exposure The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.

What are 3 facts about Mercury?

Interesting Facts About Mercury

• Mercury has water ice and organics.
• The water ice appears younger than we would expect.
• Mercury has an atmosphere that changes with its distance to the Sun.
• Mercury’s magnetic field is different at its poles.
• Despite Mercury’s weak magnetic field, it behaves similarly to Earth’s.

What are 5 facts about Mercury?

It’s not known who discovered Mercury.

• A year on Mercury is just 88 days long.
• Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System.
• Mercury is the second densest planet.
• Mercury has wrinkles.
• Mercury has a molten core.
• Mercury is only the second hottest planet.
• Mercury is the most cratered planet in the Solar System.

Can we live on Mercury?

Scientists do not believe there has ever been life on Mercury. The atmosphere on Mercury is almost non-existant. It doesn’t protect the planet from the harsh radiation of the Sun or radiation from space, nor does it trap heat and provide a breathable atmosphere. Mercury is inhospitable and sterile.